Reversible guard-finger clamp for brake-beams.



Patented May l3, I902.

No. 699,342. C. F. HUNTUUN.

REVERSIBLE GUARD FINGER CLAMP FOR BRAKE BEAMS.

(Application filed Feb. 18, 1902.)

(No Model.)

h m 40% 1 1 L 6W I I l WA? 0 i f 1 d 0 w R UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES F. HUNTOON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO CHICAGO RAILWVAY EQUIPMENT COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPO- RATION OF ILLINOIS.

REVERSIBLE GUARD-FINGER CLAMP FOR BRAKE-BEAMS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 699,842, dated May 13, 1 902. Application filed Iehruary 18, 1902. Serial No. 94,628. (No model.)

T ll 1 m it y OOYLOW'YL: The guard-finger clamp shown is made up, Beit known that I, CHARLES F. HUNTOON, a essentially, of two jaws 4 and 5, Whose free citizen of the United States, residing at the ends are formed with seats 6 to embrace the city of Chicago, county of Cook, State of Illibrake-beam or a member thereof-4n this innois, have invented a certain new and useful stance the compression member. The oppo- 55 Improvement in Reversible Guard Finger site ends ofthe jaws are connected byacurved Clamps forBrake-Beams, of which the followend 7, which is obliquely disposed to accomingisafull, clear, and exact description, such modate the tension member of the type of as will enable others skilled in the art to which beam shown in the drawings.

1Z0 it appertains to make and use the same, ref- 8 indicates overhanging hoods extending 6o erence being had to the accompanying drawoutwardly from the inner edges of the jaws 4 ings, forming part of this specification, in and 5, the free ends of said hoods or recurved which portions being provided with perforated ears Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved 9, which aline with hollow bosses 10 on the x5 guard-finger clamp, showing the same in pojaws 4and 5. These overhanging hoods form 65 sition on one end of a brake-beam. Fig. 2 is sockets or seats for the guard-finger, (india sectional view on line 2 2, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is cated by dotted lines 11,) and when the clamp a horizontal sectional view, and Fig. 4 is an is in position the guard-finger is inserted in end elevational view as seen from the inside. its socket, one end thereof preferably abut- This invention relates to a new and useting against the shoulderor projection on the 70 ful improvement in guard-finger clamps for free end of the jaw, which results from the brake-beams,the objectbeingtoconstructthe formation of the seat in said free end. A deviceinsuch mannerthataplurality of sockbolt 12 is now passed through the lugs and ets are provided for the guardfinger, which bosses 9 and 10 on each jaw, and upon screwsockets are so constructed that the medium ing the nut tightly home it will be obvious 75 which secures the clamp in position on the that notonly will the overhanginghood clamp brake-beam will also clamp the guard-finger the guard-finger in position, but the jaws 4 in either of said sockets. and 5 will be forced tightly against the mem- With these objects in view my invention ber of the brake-beam arranged in the seats consistsin the construction,arrangement,and between their free ends. In this operation 80 combination of the several parts, all as will the curved end wall 7 serves as a fulcrum, hereinafter be described and afterward pointwhile the securing-bolt acts to apply the ed out in the claims. power, and the member of the beam between In the drawings, 1 indicates the compresthe free ends of the jaws offers the resistance.

sion member ofabrake-beam,inthisinstance Thus both jaws are substantially modified 85 being shown as a solid rectangular bar, alforms of levers of the second order. though it is obvious that said compression While I have shown the clamp as being membermaybeanyshapein cross-sectiomthe made from a casting, it is obvious that the jaws of the guard-finger clamp which embrace same could readily be stamped and formed 4o,the same being shaped correspondingly. from sheet metal; also, thatinstead of the 0 2 indicates the tension member of the brakeoverhanging hoods extending from the edges beam, in this instance shown as a circular of the jaws said hoods could extend from rod, which rod is embraced by my improved other points of the jaws. In any event the guard-finger clamp. However, I will state prime object is to insure the clamping and that neither the shape nor arrangement of the holding of the guard-finger in position in its 5 compression or tension members of the brakesocket on the guard-clamp and the clamping beam has anything to do with my improved and holding of said guard-clamp in position guard finger clamp, which with obvious on the brake-beam by a single securing mechanges can be adapted to all existing forms dium, and this is effected, as will be readily of brake-beams with which I am familiar. seen, by so constructing the guard finger I00 clamp that the ends of the clamping-jaws which engage the brake-beam are free to move and that one end of the overhanging hood is likewise free to move and in a direction corresponding to the direction of move ment of the free ends of the jaws, whereby upon the application of power to the free endof the overhanging hood the jaw to which itis attached is likewise affected by said powerand moved in the same direction. The securingbolt applying equal power to the free end of the overhanging hood on the opposite jaw will affect said hood and move said jaw in an opposite direction to effect the clamping action referred to.

From the above it will be observed that the clamp is capable of being applied in position at either end of the beam and to that extent may be said to be universal, in that the same pattern answers for both right andleft.

I am aware that many minor changes in the construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts of my device can be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without in the least departing from the nature and principle of my invention.

Having thus described myinvention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A guard-finger clamp for brake-beams formed with a plurality of sockets for the reception of the guard-finger and a seat for a member of the brake-beam, and means for clamping the guard-finger in either of said seats and coincidently securing the (levicein position on a brake-beam member; substantially as described.

2. A guard-finger. clamp for brake-beams consisting of jaws connected at one end, and being provided with an overhang having one free end, said overhang being designed to embrace the guard-finger; substantially as described.

3. A guard-finger clamp for brake-beams consisting of two jaws connected at one end, and a curved extension free at one end and provided with an opening in its free end for the passage of a securing-bolt, said curved extension being designed to embrace the guard-finger; substantially as described.

4. A guard-finger clamp for brake-beams consisting of two jaws connected at one end, and two curved extensions provided with openings in their free ends, whereby a guardfinger may be secured in position in either of said curved extensions and the device coincidently clamped in position on a brake-beam member; substantially as described.

5. A guard-finger clamp comprising two jaws connected at. one end and having seats for embracinga brake-beam member between their free ends, and overhanging hoods extending from the edges of saidjaws and provided with alining openings in their free ends, either opening being capable of receiving a guard-finger; substantially as described.

6. A guard-finger clamp for brake-beams consisting of two jaws connected at one end and formed with seats at their opposite or free ends, overhanging hoods extending from the edges of said jaws and being provided with perforated lugs on their free ends, and hollow bosses formed on said jaws in alinement with the perforated lugs on said overhanging hoods; substantially as described.

7. A guard-finger clamp having a plurality of sockets whereby said clamp may be secured in position at either end of the beam, and a reversible guard-finger clamp; substantially as described.

8. A guard-finger clamp having jaws for attachment to the beam and a plurality of clamp folds or ears, either of which is adapted to hold a guard pin or finger; substantially as described.

9. A guard-finger clamp consisting essentially of two members having parallel folds for separately cooperating with the guard pin or finger; substantially as described.

10. A guard-finger clamp consisting essen' tially of jtwo members each of which is provided witn a fold or ear, said folds or cars being in vertical alinement and designed to separately cooperate with a guard pin or finger; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature, in the presence of two witnesses, this 11th day of February, 1902.

CHARLES F. HUNTOON.

EVitnesses:

E. T. WALKER, F. 'D. WILDER. 

